Can You Handle It?
That is the slogan for the 52nd Annual Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is the largest show of its kind in the US, and it is estimated that over a million people were in attendance throughout the 9 day period. This past week I had the special privilege of working the event. What an educational experience it’s been for me! I have seen more than my quota-for-the-year of mullets, missing teeth, smokeless tobacco products, and camouflage. For lack of a better description the “redneck male” was out in full force. And trust me, he CAN HANDLE IT!
My initial job was to sell beverages in the Wild West Hall, but after the umpteenth objection to the $4 frozen lemonade (a beer was only a buck more), my role quickly changed to silent observer. I’ve found this to be one of my favorite pastimes, especially when the subjects are people I know very little about. In this case, it is America’s predator – the hunter.
I should state that I grew up in a house of guns and I am not opposed to hunting. My dad is a hunter and everyone in my family likes to fish. On a scale of hard-core "redneck" hunters though, my dad falls around a 6, while most I’d place at a 9 or 10. These men wear shirts like: will hunt for food, there’s a place for all gods creatures…right next to the potatoes and gravy, whitetail deer hunting – feel the power, and my personal favorite welcome to America – now speak English! Yes, I saw that one on more than a couple bearded fellows. These men wear skunk-skinned caps and drink Miller Lite at 10am. Wait a minute, I drink Miller Lite at 10am…maybe I am a hunter after all! They have debates over which chew is better (I think the general consensus was Coppenhagen) and eat jerky the size of a turkey leg! They worship the NRA like it's their job, and I'd go so far as to say Charlton Heston might rank slightly higher on their totem pole than Jesus Christ. Yes, I was totally out of my comfort zone on this one, but loved every second of it.
The Outdoor Show showcases the latest and greatest equipment for archery, rifles, fishing, etc. and hosts over 500 outfitters that will take you hunting as close as Dauphin County or as faraway as Botswana. How shocked was I to hear how expensive a hobby (or rather, way of life) hunting can be? While proudly displaying his new crossbow and coyote caller (it makes 36 different sounds, my favorite being distressed fox pup) one man tells me these two items cost him over $1000. As if attempting to outdo him, another gentleman brags about the deal he just got for his Namibian safari - $7,900 for 1 week, excluding hunting license and trophy fees. The waterbuck or zebra will be an additional $1,500, but a baboon will run you only $100. Yet another boasts of his dream trip to Russia to bag a thousand pound brown bear. He was going to have to sell his wife’s Harley to finance the trip, but he assured me it would be worth it. I sure hope she feels the same. Meanwhile, I can't help wondering how many firearms (both legal and illegal) are in the show's parking lot.
There was no shortage of interesting sites at this show. One of my favorites was the All Things Camo booth (tuxedos, baby dresses, thongs…you name it, they’ve got it). The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation was there, protecting elk…I think so they could shoot bigger ones in a few years. There was also a bass pond for the children to practice casting. Crossbow maintenance, fly fishing, deer butchering and archery demonstrations were a daily occurrence. The art of catching monster cats was supposedly a very informative presentation, and the geese calling contest in the main arena was not to be missed. I heard the winner was 16 and from Blair County. Go PA!
So what have I learned from this festive week of testosterone-filled, tobacco-chewing, beer drinking manly men convention? 1) Mossy oak is a type of camo brand. 2) Not all tree stands are of equal quality. 3) Larry the Cable Guy is a comedian. 4) Men do love to shop. They just have to be in the right environment. 5) I can handle it…well, most of it. 6) Lastly, there is a little bit of redneck in all of us! I’m going to try a little harder to embrace this new-found side of me.
My initial job was to sell beverages in the Wild West Hall, but after the umpteenth objection to the $4 frozen lemonade (a beer was only a buck more), my role quickly changed to silent observer. I’ve found this to be one of my favorite pastimes, especially when the subjects are people I know very little about. In this case, it is America’s predator – the hunter.I should state that I grew up in a house of guns and I am not opposed to hunting. My dad is a hunter and everyone in my family likes to fish. On a scale of hard-core "redneck" hunters though, my dad falls around a 6, while most I’d place at a 9 or 10. These men wear shirts like: will hunt for food, there’s a place for all gods creatures…right next to the potatoes and gravy, whitetail deer hunting – feel the power, and my personal favorite welcome to America – now speak English! Yes, I saw that one on more than a couple bearded fellows. These men wear skunk-skinned caps and drink Miller Lite at 10am. Wait a minute, I drink Miller Lite at 10am…maybe I am a hunter after all! They have debates over which chew is better (I think the general consensus was Coppenhagen) and eat jerky the size of a turkey leg! They worship the NRA like it's their job, and I'd go so far as to say Charlton Heston might rank slightly higher on their totem pole than Jesus Christ. Yes, I was totally out of my comfort zone on this one, but loved every second of it.
The Outdoor Show showcases the latest and greatest equipment for archery, rifles, fishing, etc. and hosts over 500 outfitters that will take you hunting as close as Dauphin County or as faraway as Botswana. How shocked was I to hear how expensive a hobby (or rather, way of life) hunting can be? While proudly displaying his new crossbow and coyote caller (it makes 36 different sounds, my favorite being distressed fox pup) one man tells me these two items cost him over $1000. As if attempting to outdo him, another gentleman brags about the deal he just got for his Namibian safari - $7,900 for 1 week, excluding hunting license and trophy fees. The waterbuck or zebra will be an additional $1,500, but a baboon will run you only $100. Yet another boasts of his dream trip to Russia to bag a thousand pound brown bear. He was going to have to sell his wife’s Harley to finance the trip, but he assured me it would be worth it. I sure hope she feels the same. Meanwhile, I can't help wondering how many firearms (both legal and illegal) are in the show's parking lot.
There was no shortage of interesting sites at this show. One of my favorites was the All Things Camo booth (tuxedos, baby dresses, thongs…you name it, they’ve got it). The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation was there, protecting elk…I think so they could shoot bigger ones in a few years. There was also a bass pond for the children to practice casting. Crossbow maintenance, fly fishing, deer butchering and archery demonstrations were a daily occurrence. The art of catching monster cats was supposedly a very informative presentation, and the geese calling contest in the main arena was not to be missed. I heard the winner was 16 and from Blair County. Go PA!
So what have I learned from this festive week of testosterone-filled, tobacco-chewing, beer drinking manly men convention? 1) Mossy oak is a type of camo brand. 2) Not all tree stands are of equal quality. 3) Larry the Cable Guy is a comedian. 4) Men do love to shop. They just have to be in the right environment. 5) I can handle it…well, most of it. 6) Lastly, there is a little bit of redneck in all of us! I’m going to try a little harder to embrace this new-found side of me.
2 comments:
I grew up in Harrisburg and spent a good bit of time at the Sports and Outdoor show throughout the years. Do they still have the trout pond for the children? This is where you can pay a few bucks to rent a fishing rod with a hook and a small piece of bait (basically a piece of rubber) and toss your line into an outdoor pool sized tank that is filled with trout. One year when I was younger, to increase the odds of catching a fish, my dad took the remainder of his hot dog and baited my hook (against the rules). I returned home with a nice looking trout.
Is that right next to the "Fish in a Barrel" shooting gallery?
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